“Challenges in Predicting the Intensity of Storms By HENRY FOUNTAIN Forecasting is far better at estimating where a storm will go than its intensity, since it can be very difficult to get information from the heart of a hurricane.

With Katrina in Mind, Obama Administration Says It’s Ready for Irene By ERIC LIPTON The Obama administration made a public display Saturday of the range of its efforts to make sure state and local officials had whatever help they needed to prepare for Hurricane Irene.

New Friends Fight Off Cabin Fever at a Hotel Turned Shelter By KIM SEVERSON A community born of disaster formed among people riding out Hurricane Irene in Swansboro, N.C.”

Which one would you read? I skipped the first two because I got the gist of what the articles would be, especially with the little bit of explanation in the subheads. Not to sound callous, but yes, there are challenges in predicting the intensity of a hurricane, and yes, Barry’s peeps are going to be more prepared than George’s peeps were. Hindsight being 20/20 and all.

But who wouldn’t want to read about “A community born of disaster?” Who hasn’t imagined him or herself stuck in a hotel that becomes home during a catastrophe, and forming a community with your fellow stuck-ees?

It’s that kind of information that explains why I love reading small town newspapers that talk about the Smith’s grease fire and the minor damage to their lladro figurines or which local tree has a virus. But it’s more than that.

The first two articles are about science and charts and plans and numbers, and the last article is about people and emotions. And while information is important to have and to hold, instinct and humanity are priceless and should never be forgotten or forsaken. Humanize your thinking, your writing, your idea creation. Put a face or faces on the challenge. You might have fewer hard facts to go on, but you’ll be a whole lot more interesting to talk to.

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